FIRST-EVER SPECIAL OLYMPICS UNIFIED RELAY ACROSS AMERICA PRESENTED BY BANK OF AMERICA COMING TO LANSING ON JUNE 9

Lt. Governor Brian Calley, Local Leaders, Law Enforcement Join Lansing Area Residents in Carrying the Special Olympics Flame of Hope

Lansing, Mich – The first-ever Special Olympics Unified Relay Across America presented by Bank of America will make its way through the Lansing area on Tuesday, June 9. Lt. Governor Brian Calley, local residents, law enforcement and Special Olympics supporters will help to carry the Special Olympics Flame of Hope, as the torch makes this historic journey across America, on its way to the 2015 Special Olympics World Games in Los Angeles, CA, on July 25th. The Unified Relay will unite the country, increase understanding and acceptance of people with intellectual disabilities, and create communities of acceptance and inclusion along the way.

Join us for a free community celebration for all ages on Tuesday, June 9 from 5:00-7:00 pm at the State Capitol grounds (124 W Allegan St.) as we welcome to the Flame of Hope to Lansing! Live entertainment begins at 5:00 pm. The Flame of Hope arrives at 5:30 pm with live entertainment continuing again at 6:00 pm. This will be the only opportunity area residents not participating in the Relay itself will have to see the Special Olympics Flame of Hope as the torch makes this historic journey across America, on its way to the 2015 Special Olympics World Games in Los Angeles, CA, this summer. This community celebration event is a fun way for everyone to support Special Olympics and unify the community.

Prior to arriving in Lansing, the Flame of Hope will be carried relay-style through downtown Detroit on Tuesday morning, then driven to Ann Arbor where the relay will continue. The Flame of Hope will arrive in East Lansing at approximately 2:00 pm where, for the next three and a half hours, it will make its way through the campus of Michigan State University, past the Michigan Historical Museum, and finally to the Capitol Building.

Following Tuesday’s community celebration, the Unified Relay Across America will resume on Wednesday, June 10, at 7:00 am at Lansing’s Grand River Park (N Cedar St between Saginaw and Shiawassee). The relay will continue in Lansing until approximately 9:45 am where the Michigan leg will end on S Martin Luther King Blvd with the Flame of Hope then being driven to Fort Wayne, Indiana.

On May 14, 2015, the Flame of Hope was lit by the rays of the sun during a ceremony conducted by High Priestesses with intellectual disabilities in Athens, Greece. The torch was then passed to the Guardians of the Flame, Law Enforcement officers from throughout the world who represent the Law Enforcement Torch Run. After the official lighting, the flame began its official journey to the Special Olympics World Games and arrived in Washington, D.C., where the relay then split into three simultaneous routes starting in Augusta, Maine; Miami, Florida; and Washington, D.C

LANSING AREA ROUTE DETAILS:

See attached documents for route details for both June 9 and June 10.

Note: Routes subject to change. A separate media alert will be sent prior to event with any route changes. To see a map of the routes, CLICK HERE FOR TUESDAY, JUNE 9 and CLICK HERE FOR WEDNESDAY, JUNE 10.

Resources:

Photos from the Unified Relay Across America: http://unifiedrelay.smugmug.com/

HD video from the Unified Relay Across America: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/b7o7ymc5x4w6099/AAB9mxD6uY2u7HoATRynxd4Oa/North/video?dl=0

Connect with the Flame:

Facebook: facebook.com/specialolympics

Twitter: @SpecialOlympics

Instagram: @SpecialOlympics

Hashtags: #UnifiedRelay, #PasstheFlame

About the Unified Relay Across America

The Special Olympics Unified Relay Across America presented by Bank of America, is a once in a lifetime opportunity for America to unite to build communities of respect and inclusion. Over the course of 46 days, in a hand-to-hand exchange, over 20,000 participants throughout the nation will carry the torch, passing the Special Olympics Flame of Hope across the country to help deliver it to Los Angeles for the Special Olympics World Games. The Unified Relay will be three simultaneous routes visiting all 50 states and will be led by celebrity and Special Olympics athlete co-captains. The Unified Relay will begin on May 26, where it will be split into three simultaneous routes starting in Augusta, Maine; Miami, Florida; and Washington, D.C. Traveling west, all three routes will converge in Los Angeles on July 10. Along each route, welcoming ceremonies and community celebrations will take place with musical performances, celebrity guests and Special Olympics Unified Sports Experiences. The Unified Relay Across America is presented by Bank of America, and supported by official media partners ESPN and ABC, and national sponsors Citgo, Finish Line, the Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics, Microsoft, PR Nutrition, Toyota and Visa.

SOMI is a non-profit organization supported almost entirely by corporate and individual gifts, and events. The generosity of Michigan organizations, individuals and statewide businesses enable the program to continue.